On December 10, 2004 (Human Rights Day), the United States Supreme Court agreed to hear the case of Jose Medellin to determine what effect the United States should give to a recent ruling by the International Court of Justice at the Hague, the United Nations’ highest court. In the case of Medellin and 50 other Mexican nationals on death row, the World Court ruled that the U.S. failed to inform Mexico of their arrests, in violation of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. This failing interfered with Mexico’s ability to lend legal assistance to those facing the death penalty. The Vienna Convention applies to Americans abroad and to foreigners arrested in the United States and requires that an arresting government notify a foreign national of the right to talk with his or her consulate. It also requires that the consulate be informed of the arrest of one of their citizens. The Supreme Court granted certiorari to determine whether the World Court’s ruling supplants the holding of lower courts that Medellin should have raised this claim earlier. The World Court ruled that U.S. courts should give the death row inmates “meaningful review” of their convictions and sentences. The case is Medellin v. Dretke, No. 04-5928. (Associated Press, December 10, 2004) See Supreme Court and Foreign Nationals.